Grand Canyon crash: Parents’ tribute to ‘wonderful’ sons

Image copyrightFamily handout/PAImage caption Stuart (left) and Jason Hill were among three Britons killed in the crash

The parents of two British tourists who died in the Grand Canyon helicopter crash have paid tribute to their “wonderful sons”.

Becky Dobson, 27, Stuart Hill, 30, and his brother Jason Hill, 32, were on the “holiday of a lifetime” when they were killed.

Three other Britons and the pilot were injured, but were not rescued until eight hours later on Sunday morning.

Safety officials have said the crash investigation will take 18 months.

In a statement released via the Foreign Office, Rev David and Sandra Hill said their sons, from West Sussex, were “inseparable brothers” and “remarkable people” who will be “deeply missed by so many people”.

Image copyrightCaters News AgencyImage caption Jonathan Udall and his wife Ellie Milward, both on left, were injured in the crash and Becky Dobson and Stuart Hill were both killed

Crash investigators said they were in contact with the survivors and hoped to secure statements from them during the coming days.

It is not clear what caused the crash on Saturday evening. Witnesses say rescue efforts were hampered by high winds.

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Media captionTributes paid to helicopter crash victims

“Once the wreckage has been recovered, we will start to gather archive information relating to the pilot, the aircraft and the environment,” national transportation safety board investigator Stephen Stein told a press conference in Nevada on Monday.

He said a preliminary report is expected in five to 10 days, but the final report would take 18 months to deliver “because it’s a very technical-heavy investigation”.

Image copyrightTeddy FujimotoImage caption The helicopter came down, during a tour of the canyon, on Saturday evening

Investigators have to take helicopters into the valley and then hike down to the base of the canyon to access the crash site, Mr Stein told reporters.

The aircraft will soon be moved to a site in Phoenix for further examination.

Mr Stein said the “crash-resistant fuel system” is a very important part of this investigation.

He said there was “evidence of post-crash fire” and images have shown the aircraft engulfed in flames.